Vaishnaw Urges Platforms to Own Content, Share Revenue Fairly
Vaishnaw Urges Platforms to Own Content, Share Revenue Fairly
India's I&B Minister calls on platforms to take responsibility for content, curb deepfakes, and share revenue with creators to boost online safety.
At the Digital News Publishers Association Conclave, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urged online platforms to take responsibility for the content they host, act proactively against cybercrimes, and ensure online safety for citizens, especially children. He called on platforms to rethink revenue-sharing policies to benefit original content creators, including traditional media, and warned that if voluntary action does not happen, other countries have shown paths to enforce change through law.
Vaishnaw highlighted deepfakes and the spread of disinformation as major threats to trust in institutions—judiciary, media, legislature and the democratic process. He described it as an inflection point, stressing that authenticity of news content and the online safety of children require decisive steps today. He said platforms must ensure content is not illegal, harmful, or inciting, and that synthetic content should not be created without the consent of the person whose face or voice is used.
On revenue sharing, the minister pressed platforms to consider fair terms for creators, including conventional media, noting the evolving nature of the internet. He also mentioned ongoing discussions about age restrictions with platforms, and the need to protect minors while respecting the realities of the digital economy.
Vaishnaw urged platforms to deploy tools to detect and curb illegal or harmful content and to comply with clear policies on synthetic content, underscoring that accountability will hinge on proactive moderation and enforcement.
